Verdasco sees brighter side of ATP Tour exit

London : Hero for the national team's triumph last year, Spaniard Fernando Verdasco now only has the Davis Cup on his mind after bowing out from the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

"Of course it [the Davis Cup] is very important to me. And to have more time to prepare for it is even more of a bonus," Verdasco said after his third straight loss here on Thursday.

A win in straight sets against local favourite Andy Murray would have kept Verdasco's hopes alive for a semifinal showing today. But that was not to be as he went down in three sets to Murray. "I did not have anything to lose here, but I had everything to gain if I had won and Roger [Federer] too would win later in the night," Verdasco said.

Last year, Verdasco shot into the limelight as one of Spain's fast upcoming stars after winning the fourth Davis Cup rubber for his country defeating Jose Acasuso of Argentina. The performance was even more commendable as Verdasco had partnered Feliciano Lopez and won the previous doubles match.

And now this week, he has a similar assignment on hand as Spain seeks to retain their Davis Cup crown against the Czech Republic in Barcelona. Hence after losing three straight matches here, all Verdasco could think of was getting to Barcelona as soon as possible to start match preparations.